5 Signs Your Car Is Dying and You’ll Need a New One Soon
If you lease a car, you’re always under warranty and your mind is never burdened with the cost of big repairs. When you buy a car, on the other hand, you’ll eventually come to a point where you have to decide whether it’s worth putting another dollar into a failing vehicle.
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Bad news from a mechanic can come in a lot of different forms — and sometimes, a symptom that could indicate a big problem can actually turn out to be something that isn’t so terrible after all.
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The following symptoms all fit that bill. If your car shows any of them, don’t panic — it could be a relatively quick fix. Each and every symptom on this list, however, could also be a sign of impending doom. These are the signs that could indicate a terminal condition in your poor car — and that it’s time for you to get what you can for it now.
Last updated: March 3, 2021
Knock, Knock. Who’s There? Engine Damage
If you hear knocking sounds coming from your engine, it might be the automotive grim reaper announcing his arrival. It could be something as simple as the wrong octane fuel or the wrong spark plugs. Knocking, however, is often a harbinger of bad things to come. It can happen, for example, when the camshaft isn’t lining up with the pistons. According to the National Automobile Dealers Association’s NADA Guides, if that knocking sound is the result of a problem that requires an engine rebuild, you can expect to spend $2,500-$4,000.
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If Your Car Shudders, You Should, Too
Jerking, convulsing and shuddering while driving, particularly during shifting, is a hallmark of transmission problems. Just as with a knock in the engine, however, it’s not a cause to panic prematurely. It could be something as simple as spent transmission fluid that needs to be changed. It could also, however, indicate several other bigger problems like failed solenoids, a bad clutch or worn-out bands or gears. If you have to replace the transmission, it will cost more than $5,000, according to RepairPal — and even transmission repair is one of the costliest fixes you can suffer through.
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A Terminal Case of Rust
When rust attacks the trunk, panels, fenders and other relatively benign areas of the car, the metal-munching oxidation can be managed and mitigated. That’s surface rust. When it attacks vital organs like the suspension mounting points, shock towers, frame or fuel and brake lines, that’s structural rust — and your case is likely terminal. There is no estimated repair cost because there’s really no way to fix rust once it’s progressed to that level — get whatever you can for your car before it gets worse.
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Strange Smoke
Smoke billowing out of your exhaust is another could-be-nothing-could-be-something indicator that something needs fixing — maybe something small like burning oil or maybe it’s a hidden engine-killer. A lot depends on the color. Blue smoke could indicate a problem with valve seals, bad piston rings or even busted pistons. Thick white smoke likely means you’re burning coolant, which could indicate significant problems like damage to the head gasket or even the cylinder head. If it is the head gasket, you can expect to pay around $1,500 to get it fixed — times two for the cylinder head, according to RepairPal.
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Your Dashboard Is a Lightshow
The warning indicator lights that adorn your dash are there to let you know there’s a problem and which systems have been affected. Some — like the fuel warning light and the tire-pressure indicator — are there just for you. Others — most infamously the dreaded check-engine light — require a trip to the mechanic. When multiple warning lights pop on at once, however, or when they persist or keep coming back, repairs can turn into a game of whack-a-mole and you might want to start car shopping.
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